Canyon Springs football team finally at home in new stadium

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Canyon Springs High host and the Moreno Valley, Calif. school’s fans cheer before the game against Moreno Valley High. The non-league game was played at Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Canyon Springs High’s new stadium is pristine green.
After three decades of traveling for home games, Canyon Springs plays the first varsity football game in at their home. The Cougar will host Moreno Valley High in a non-league game at the Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Proud moms watch a junior varsity game in the shade at Canyon Springs High’s new stadium at Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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A carnival lies beyond the line that stretches from Canyon Springs High’s stadium and snakes into the lunch benches on the Moreno Valley, Calif. campus Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man reacts when the announcer acknowledges that after three decades of traveling for home games, Canyon Springs plays the first varsity football game in an on-campus stadium. The Cougars host Moreno Valley High at Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Terrelle Smith’s jersey is retired at Canyon Springs High where he graduated in 1996. He’s a former American football fullback, drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Photographed at the Moreno Valley, Calif. school Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Valerie Sanchez of Moreno Valley cheers on her kids who run for a prize at Canyon Springs High. A pregame carnival was held Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Canyon Springs High host and the Moreno Valley, Calif. school’s fans cheer before the game against Moreno Valley High. The non-league game was played at Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Valerie Sanchez of Moreno Valley, Calif., left, passes on running for a prize and cheers on her kids instead during a pregame carnival at local Canyon Springs High on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Gal pal camaraderie in high gear during a pregame carnival held at Canyon Springs High in Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Sharon Mendonsa isn’t clowning around about keeping kids away from drugs as she watches the Friday Night Live booth at Moreno Valley, Calif. Canyon Springs High had a pregame carnival Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Carnivals are synonymous with goldfish. This youngest looks at his win at a pregame carnival at Canyon Springs High in Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A pregame carnival was held at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley school Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Malia Hernandez, 13, does time for Canyon Springs High’s choir. A pregame carnival was held at the Moreno Valley, Calif. school Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Canyon Springs’ Lukas Rodriguez is tackled by Moreno Valley High. After three decades of traveling for home games, plays the first varsity football game in an on-campus stadium. The Cougars host Moreno Valley High in a non-league game at the Moreno Valley, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

MORENO VALLEY – For this night, the numbers on the scoreboard meant less to the Canyon Springs football program than where that scoreboard was located.

For the first time in the program’s 32-year-year history, the Cougars got to play a varsity football game on a field they could truly call home. Their fans standing, with their backs to Pigeon Pass Road and facing the artwork on the Canyon Springs gym, the Cougars kicked off a new era after honoring their history.

What followed after the kickoff will be memorable only for Canyon Springs’ crosstown opponents, Moreno Valley. The Vikings, showing they will again be a formidable force, rolled past the young Canyon Springs squad, 49-0.

Before the game, a ceremony honored longtime members of the school’s administration and athletic department, coaches and players. The ceremony was capped by the retirement of the jerseys worn by four of Canyon Springs’ football standouts, Terrelle Smith, Solomon Bates and Greg and Eric Zomalt.

Those players seemed as excited as the fans. Smith flexed and mugged for the crowd and former players, coaches and administrators gave their phones a workout taking pictures.

“This is a beautiful place,” Bates said. “This is a facility everyone can take pride in. And seeing old teammates and guys I looked up to, this is great.”

Eric Zomalt was like a well-disciplined kid, not wanting to see his presents before Christmas.

“I purposely stayed away,” he said. “One of my assistants works at the school over there and he told me, ‘The stadium’s coming together and looking good.’ But I wanted to wait so I could walk in and see it like this. I love it.”

Coach Jack Fogarty, who started the program from scratch with only freshmen and sophomores in 1986 and built into one of the powerhouses in Southern California, said the stadium can make a difference in the program. The fans, particularly students, who may not have been able to travel across town for a home game, won’t have to.

“And, in today’s market,” he said, “it may mean the difference in keeping your athletes here.”

The Canyon Springs program still has a climb to regain its previous stature. Moreno Valley, however, appears on track to match its recent success.

Moreno Valley scored on all of its first-half possessions except for a kneel-down on the final play.

Lata Aeau also had two touchdowns for Moreno Valley, one on a run, one on a fumble return.

Canyon Springs had a few opportunities at scoring its first points in the new facility, penetrating the Moreno Valley 30 three times but mustering only a missed field goal attempt.

“I wish we had given them a better show, but it means a lot to see those (former) players come back here,” Coach Howard Boyd said. “Our kids were elated to see them, knowing all the things they’ve done.”